issue 239 - week of 5-9-25
curating the good stuff for the casual bitcoin enthusiast each week
summary podcast
Listen below for an succinct overview in podcast format of all items contained in this issue of the newsletter.
news
I used Google NotebookLM and ChatGPT to summarize the information in this week’s news links:
The sources collectively illustrate a growing consensus around Bitcoin’s evolving role as a superior capital asset and sound money alternative. With its fixed supply of 21 million units, Bitcoin is positioned as an antidote to fiat currency inflation and dilution, earning it comparisons to a better version of gold or even traditional equities. Thought leaders like Michael Saylor and Anthony Scaramucci emphasize Bitcoin’s value as an incorruptible, apolitical store of value, especially in a world increasingly concerned with sovereign debt and economic instability. This positioning is central to the growing narrative that Bitcoin represents not just a speculative asset, but a long-term financial foundation.
Institutional and governmental adoption of Bitcoin is another major theme, highlighting how states like New Hampshire and Arizona are actively exploring Bitcoin reserves, signaling a broader shift in strategic reserve thinking. These actions are interpreted as the beginning stages of a "game theory" dynamic, where governments and large entities may feel pressure to adopt Bitcoin to remain competitive. Meanwhile, companies like MicroStrategy (now Strategy) are leading the way in corporate adoption, treating Bitcoin as a core treasury asset and outperforming traditional strategies like holding bonds or executing stock buybacks. These developments collectively signal increasing legitimacy for Bitcoin within the mainstream financial system.
Despite optimism, the sources acknowledge ongoing risks and complexities, including Bitcoin’s volatility, questions about government involvement, and challenges related to emerging financial products like Bitcoin-backed loans or ETFs. Nonetheless, the trajectory appears upward, driven by a mix of institutional validation, retail interest ("orange pilling"), and innovative use cases. The integration of Bitcoin into corporate strategies and even everyday commerce—like Steak ‘N Shake’s Bitcoin payment rollout—suggests it is becoming more than just a speculative tool. Overall, Bitcoin is seen as gradually embedding itself into the financial fabric, albeit amid debates about its decentralization, valuation, and role in a maturing digital economy.
Standard Chartered analyst apologizes for $120,000 bitcoin price call, says target “may be too low.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/08/stanchart-analyst-apologizes-120k-bitcoin-price-call-too-low.html
Bitcoin retakes $100,000 on global trade deal optimism.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/bitcoin-tops-100000-trade-deal-optimism-2025-05-08/
Is Bitcoin Price Heading To $137K? Market Expert Says BTC Broke Out Since Nov. 2024.
https://www.tradingview.com/news/newsbtc:ac2a25d8b094b:0-is-bitcoin-price-heading-to-137k-market-expert-says-btc-broke-out-since-nov-2024/
New Hampshire just became the first state to establish a crypto reserve.
https://www.businessinsider.com/bitcoin-reserve-new-hampshire-crypto-cryptocurrency-trump-btc-2025-5
Bitcoin back above $100,000: Financial planning icon Ric Edelman reacts to the crypto ETF boom.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/10/bitcoin-at-100000-investor-ric-edelman-reacts-to-crypto-etf-boom.html
Coinbase to Acquire Deribit: Becoming the Most Comprehensive Global Crypto Derivatives Platform.
https://www.coinbase.com/blog/coinbase-to-acquire-deribit-becoming-the-most-comprehensive-global-crypto-derivatives-platform
Wall Street Brings the Bitcoin-Versus-Gold Clash to ETF Masses.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-09/bitcoin-maxis-and-gold-bugs-set-for-collision-course-in-new-etf
BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF posts $356 million inflows, marking the longest streak of 2025.
https://cointelegraph.com/news/blackrock-ibit-bitcoin-etf-inflow-streak-largest-2025
Strategy Acquires 1,895 BTC and Now Holds 555,450 BTC.
https://www.strategy.com/press/strategy-acquires-1895-btc-and-now-holds-555450-btc_05-05-2025
Three New U.S. State-Level Bitcoin Bills Signed Into Law.
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/politics/three-new-u-s-state-level-bitcoin-bills-signed-into-law
Gov. Katie Hobbs signs bill to create Bitcoin reserve days after vetoing other cryptocurrency legislation.
https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/gov-katie-hobbs-signs-bill-to-create-bitcoin-reserve-days-after-vetoing-other-crypto-legislation
Steak ‘N Shake to Roll Out US Bitcoin Payments Nationwide.
https://decrypt.co/318712/steak-n-shake-to-roll-out-us-bitcoin-payments-nationwide
What is a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve?.
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/glossary/strategic-bitcoin-reserve
DeFiying gravity? An empirical analysis of cross-border Bitcoin, Ether and stablecoin flows.
https://www.bis.org/publ/work1265.pdf
media
Podcast. The Pomp Podcast: Bitcoin’s Price Is About to SHOCK Everyone - Here’s Why.
Podcast. Coin Stories: Michael Saylor: 100x Return Strategy, Bitcoin vs Macro Panic & the BTC Corporate Treasury Revolution.
Podcast. Open Book w/ Anthony Scaramucci: "Most Americans Don't Want Handouts, They Want a Fair Deal and a Fair Shake."
Conference. Strategy World 2025: The Transformative Power of Bitcoin and AI.
Conference. Strategy World 2025: Michael Saylor Bitcoin for Corporations 2025 Keynote Speech.
Podcast. My Favorite Thing About Bitcoin: Bitcoin Is Still Wildly Mispriced — Here’s Why.
tweets
(Substack blocking direct Twitter links at the moment)
https://x.com/brian_armstrong/status/1919551222295535786
https://x.com/TedPillows/status/1919421366799126899
https://x.com/lopp/status/1919806558055133528
https://x.com/lopp/status/1919806558055133528
https://x.com/BenPhiat/status/1920097005780574427
https://x.com/TFTC21/status/1920138441402327550
https://x.com/jackmallers/status/1920220995257860399
https://x.com/HODL15Capital/status/1874264186563551630
https://x.com/pete_rizzo_/status/1920408698100318702
https://x.com/decodejar/status/1920460838030147638
https://x.com/Vivek4real_/status/1920448511780208960
https://x.com/pete_rizzo_/status/1920644048823439501
https://x.com/Vivek4real_/status/1920681354183758015
https://x.com/ki_young_ju/status/1920738436887310582
https://x.com/nsquaredvalue/status/1920505481312731371
https://x.com/Excellion/status/1920959356599701907
https://x.com/adam3us/status/1920999874549445100
https://x.com/davidmarcus/status/1921216010167705711
https://x.com/Bitcoin_Teddy/status/1921218413843640621
https://x.com/QuintenFrancois/status/1921252237575180554
https://x.com/milesdeutscher/status/1921248377142157419
https://x.com/thomas_fahrer/status/1921375350883336653
https://x.com/kyledoops/status/1921316836358094920
https://x.com/TheBTCTherapist/status/1921432430944178522
If you think we’ve missed something important, please send it to us and we’ll be sure to add it to next week’s newsletter… And please share!
